Icing on the cake – Afghanistan defeats Ireland, now ready to play with the Big Boys!

Nawroz Khan Mangal lifts the trophy after the final match of the Twenty20 ICC World Qualifier final match at Dubai yesterday

As reported here yesterday, Afghanistan’s cricket team defeated the United Arab Emirates yesterday thus securing themselves a place in the World Twenty20 finals. They took it a step further and beat Ireland by 8 wickets (with 15 balls remaining) in Dubai yesterday.

Going to the West Indies to play in the World Twenty20 means Afghanistan’s team will now play against the “Big Boys” of cricket such as South Africa and India. They will be going in as underdogs, so they are hoping to pull off a major upset against one the teams. Interestingly enough, this will be the first time an Afghan team has made it to the finals of a major ICC (International Cricket Council) tournament.

Batting all-rounder Karim Sadiq told an AFP reporter, “People in my country are very happy, and there will be big celebrations in Afghanistan when we return… I think maybe three million people will come to the city to celebrate and dance.”

I am sure there will be more, and not just in Afghanistan that will be celebrating!

Sadiq’s team-mate Raees Ahmadzai said, “We want to see the grounds in the West Indies and show the world that we are not behind the other teams and show everybody that Afghanistan is one of the best cricket teams in the world.”

Video: Al Jazeera’s Rahul Pathak reports on Afghanistan’s incredible achievement.